2025 UWF Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee: Darrell Gooden
 
The University of West Florida Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is excited to induct the 2025 UWF Athletics Hall of Fame class. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Friday, Nov. 14 in the Darrell Gooden Center on the UWF campus. A cocktail reception will begin at 4 p.m. with the ceremony starting at 5 p.m. 
 
Five individuals will be inducted this year. Here is a short profile on hall of fame inductee Darrell Gooden:
 
Darrell Gooden is one of the most ardent Argonaut supporters and is the largest donor in the history of UWF athletics. 
 
A Pensacola native, Darrell graduated in UWF's undergraduate class of 1973 with a degree in accounting and then founded Gooden Homes. He joined the effort to help start a football program in 2016 and became a Platinum UWF Football Founder. He continued to support UWF Athletics and donated towards a new support building that would benefit athletics and football. His lead gift helped build the Darrell Gooden Center that included a new locker room for football and a sports performance center for all student-athletes.
 
Darrell is also a member of the prestigious Sword & Shield Council. He also created an endowed scholarship to support UWF Football student-athletes. Darrell then helped lead the fundraising for an addition to the Darrell Gooden Center that added the new Sandy Sansing Sports Medicine Center and new football coaches suite.
 
Darrell's most recent gift commitment spearheaded the idea of building a new football stadium on UWF's campus. His commitment of more than $10 million was the lead gift in a campaign to
build a brand new state-of-the-art stadium and multiuse venue that will be the premier sporting venue in northwest Florida. His gift will help build the new Darrell Gooden Stadium that will house UWF Football and many other events for decades to come.
 
Darrell, and his wife Debbie, can be seen attending many UWF athletic events including many home and away football games.